Tuesday, January 27, 2009

PetiteMommy was asking today for thoughts on teaching symmetry to her first grader. I tried to think back to my days of teaching first grade. Whew, that was . . . seven years ago?!?! Oh my! Anyway, after some remembering and googling, I found these ideas:

1) Look at pictures of lady bugs and butterflies. Discuss how the different sides look the same.

2) Make symmetric figures using pattern blocks or tangrams.

3) Fold paper in half and begin cutting. Unfold paper to see a symmetric shape.

4) Put a mirror beside pictures to where you can see the exact same picture in the mirror.